PA Training for Health & Safety Accident Prevention Through Education

Purpose

To provide guidance for businesses and employers on how to plan for and respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This guidance is based on what is currently known about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. The outbreak first started in China, but the virus continues to spread internationally and in the United States. The following guidance is meant to help prevent workplace exposures to COVID-19, in non-healthcare settings.

Preparing Workplaces for a COVID-19 Outbreak

Businesses and employers can prevent as well as slow the spread of COVID-19. Employers should plan to respond in a flexible way to varying levels of disease transmission in the community and be prepared to refine their business response plans as needed. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), most American workers will likely experience low (caution) or medium exposure risk levels at their job or place of employment. Reference: OSHA guidance for employers for more information about job risk classifications.

Businesses are strongly encouraged to enforce the mitigation strategy disseminated by the governor and the Pennsylvania Department of Health to help lessen the impact of COVID-19.

All employers need to consider how best to decrease the spread of COVID-19 and lower the impact in their workplace

This should include the following areas:

Cleaning AND disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, and doorknobs. Dirty surfaces can be cleaned with soap and water prior to disinfection. To disinfect, use products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against, the cause of COVID-19, and are appropriate for the surface

Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks, other work tools, and equipment) can be wiped down by employees before each use to help reduce transmission among employees

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash and immediately wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Learn more about coughing and sneezing etiquette on the PA Department of Health website.

Avoid using other employees’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment, when possible. If necessary, clean and disinfect them before and after use

Follow the policies and procedures of your employer-related to illness, cleaning and disinfecting, and work meetings and travel

Employers should enforce policies and practices for social distancing

Social distancing should be enforced. Social distancing means maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible (e.g., breakrooms and cafeterias).

It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slow the spread of the virus. American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) encourages the use of face coverings in the workplace where respirators have not historically been required to help prevent people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Strategies that business could use include:

Assess your essential business functions and the reliance the community has on your services or products

Talk with companies that provide your business with a contract or temporary employees about the importance of sick employees staying home and encourage them to develop non-punitive leave policies

Talk with business partners about your response plans. Share best practices with other businesses in your communities (especially those in your supply chain), chambers of commerce, and associations to improve community response efforts

Determine how you will operate if absenteeism spikes from increases in sick employees, and those who stay home to care for sick family members

Plan to monitor and respond to absenteeism at the workplace

Implement plans to continue your essential business functions in case you experience higher than usual absenteeism

Prepare to institute flexible workplace and leave policies

Cross-train employees to perform essential functions so the workplace can operate even if key employees are absent

Separate sick employees

Employees who appear to have symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, or shortness of breath) upon arrival at work or who become sick during the day should immediately be separated from other employees, customers, and visitors and sent home

If an employee is confirmed to have COVID-19 infection, employers should inform fellow employees of their possible exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace but maintain confidentiality as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The employer should instruct fellow employees about how to proceed based on the CDC Public Health Recommendations for Community-Related Exposure.